Pension Plan and Employee Benefits, SERP (Details) (SERP Benefits [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Components of periodic benefit costs
Service cost	$ 570,000	$ 514,000	$ 1,708,000	$ 1,541,000
Interest cost	757,000	645,000	2,271,000	1,934,000
Prior period service cost	13,000	13,000	40,000	40,000
Net loss	469,000	576,000	1,407,000	1,728,000
Net periodic benefit cost	1,809,000	1,748,000	5,426,000	5,243,000
Curent portion of SERP liability	2,800,000		2,800,000		2,700,000
Cleco Power [Member]
Components of periodic benefit costs
Net periodic benefit cost	400,000	400,000	1,300,000	1,200,000
Curent portion of SERP liability	$ 900,000		$ 900,000		$ 700,000